Floor-cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A floor-cleaning device wherein the base portion has mounted thereon, a supply roll of floor-cleaning material and a clamp bar which retains the end of a web fed off the supply roll and across the underside of the base portion. When the web gets dirty from cleaning the floor, the clamp bar can be raised and a new web portion fed off the roll. The clamp bar includes a severing portion so that the dirty part of the web can be torn off after the clean web portion has been fed off the supply roll. The supply roll is releasably retained on the base portion by a spring-biased roll-engaging element.

United States Patent Clurman et a1.

[54] FLOOR-CLEANING DEVICE [72] Inventors: Morton P. Clurman; Jerry M. Emerson, both of 0/0 Sanitation Systems, Inc., Box 124, Croton-on-I-Iudson, NY.

[22] Filed: Feb. 10,1970

[2]] Appl.No.: 10,210

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,947,054 2/1934 McReynolds ..l5/23l UX 2,489,005 1 H1949 Bourdunis 1 5/231 UX ..242/68.4 X

[4 Feb. 15,1972

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 978,796 12/1964 Great Britain 15/231 Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin I Attorney-Roylance, Abrams, Kruger, Berdo & Kaul [5 7] ABSTRACT A floor-cleaning device wherein the base portion has mounted thereon, a supply roll of floor-cleaning material and a clamp bar which retains the end of a web fed off the supply roll and across the underside of the base portion. When the web gets dirty from cleaning the floor, the clamp bar can be raised and a new web portion fed off the roll. The clamp bar includes a severing portion so that the dirty part of the web can be torn off after the clean web portion has been fed 0B the supply roll. The supply roll is releasably retained on the base portion by a spring-biased roll-engaging element.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures FLOOR-CLEANING DEVICE This invention relates to a floor-cleaning device and more particularly it relates to an improved manually operable floorcleaning tool which can be used for wiping or otherwise sweeping the floor, particularly at institutional or industrial installations.

in office buildings, factories, schools and other such institutions, it is common practice to provide the janitorial staff with some form of floor-cleaning or wiping tool. It becomes particularly important at places such as hospitals, precision research laboratories, computer installations, and the like, to make certain that the floor is thoroughly cleaned in a scientific manner to minimize germs, dust, and other impurities which are often found on the floor. The conventional floor-sweeping tool which has been widely'used for a long period of time is, of course, the dust mop. However, dust mops do not provide the sanitary cleaning which is needed at institutions such as hospitals where thorough and complete cleaning is a necessity to prevent the spread of germs.

Another type of floor-cleaning tool which has been used in place of dust mops has employed a web of material, such as cloth or paper, with the web unwinding from a supply roll across the floor and then onto a takeup or windup roll. While floor cleaning tools of this type have proved more satisfactory than simple dust mops, they have suffered from the disadvantage that the used or dirty web is rewound onto a takeup roll and is hence transported from area to area within the hospital or other installation until the entire roll of material has been used up and dirtied. in such an arrangement, there is always the problem that the germs which are carried by the dirty web, as wound upon the takeup roll, are transported from one area in a hospital, such as a contagious ward, to another area which might be intended to be a noncontagious ward. Still further, it has been found that dual roll cleaning tools of this type are generally somewhat expensive to manufacture and are somewhat more difficult for the operator to use, since the operator must push the weight of both the clean roll and the dirty roll and any foreign material which has been wound onto the dirty roll.

With the foregoing in mind, it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome the difficulties and deficiencies associated with the prior art and to provide in their stead, a new and improved floor cleaning device.

Another object of the present invention-is to provide a floor cleaning device which is especially adapted for sanitary cleaning operations in such facilities as hospitals, research laboratories, computer installations and the like, where thorough and effective floor cleaning are of utmost importance.

' Another object of the present invention is to provide a floor cleaning tool which utilizes a web of material for wiping the floor, such web being easily removed and destroyed or otherwise disposed of as soon as it becomes soiled so that there is no need to transport the dirty web material from one area to another.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simplified form of floor-cleaning device incorporating a web of material fed off a single supply roll, wherein the roll itself can be easily inserted onto or removed from the device and wherein the web can be readily fed off the roll to be used for floor-cleaning purposes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a floor-cleaning tool wherein a web of floor-cleaning material is utilized and wherein severing means are incorporated to assure that the dirty portion of the web can be severed as soon as the operator finds it necessary to do so.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a floor cleaning tool which is simple to use, which is durable and capable of extended periods of maintenance free operation, yet which is relatively simple in construction and inexpensive to produce.

Other objects, advantageous and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the an- .nexed drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring now to the drawing. which forms a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new and improved floorcleaning device in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

Referring now to the drawings in further detail, the floorcleaning device in accordance with the present invention is generally designated 10 and includes a base portion generally designated 12. The base portion 12 is formed by a generally flat or planar bed 14 having a slightly upturned flange '16 at one end thereof. The bed is provided with a pair of integral upstanding sidewalls l8, 18 which are parallel to one another and which extend a sufficient distance above the bed to provide a means for mounting a supply roll generally designated 20.

The supply roll itself includes a hollow elongated core 22 of cardboard or other rigid material upon which is convolutely wound a web 24 of floor wiping or cleaning material. This web 24 can be treated paper or it can-be fabric or any other suitable material which can be utilized for wiping the floor in the facility or installation where the tool 10 is to be used. In order to mount the supply roll 20, a pin 26 is attached to one of the sidewalls 18 by means of a screw 28 of the like. The pin 26 has an inward frustoconical taper thereon to fit within the open end of the hollow core 22. A releasable mounting means is provided on the other sidewall 18 for the purpose of engaging the other end of the supply roll 20. This releasable mounting means includes a roll-engaging element 30 which is quite similar to the pin 26 in that it includes an inwardly tapering frustoconical portion engageable in the open end of the hollow core 22 of the supply roll. The roll engaging element 30 is attached adjacent the end of a spring arm 32, formed of spring steel or the like and attached by rivets 34 or other suitable attachment means to the outside of the sidewall 18. An aperture 36 is formed in the sidewall 18 so that the roll-engaging element 30 can extend therethrough. Finally, a tapered or angled tip 38 is provided at the end of the spring arm 32 so that the springarm can be manually pulled outwardly to overcome the biasing force of the spring and to remove the roll-engaging elemerit 30 from contact with the supply roll 20. This will enable a new supply roll to be inserted when the web 24 has been entirely fed off the core 22 of the old supply roll.

On the bottom surface of the bed 14, there is attached a pad 40 of resilient material such as foam rubber, foam plastic, carpeting, or any other substance which is resilient enough to permit the same to follow any indentations or imperfections in the floor which is being cleaned. The web 24 unwinds from the supply roll 20, passes beneath this pad 40, then turns back up over the flange 16 at the end of the bed and rests upon the top of the bed 14 where it is retained in position by a means generally designated 42. This means includes an elongated bar portion which is generally L-shaped in configuration and which serves to clamp the free end of the web 24 against the bed. As such, the bar 42 includes an upstanding portion 44 and a perpendicularly directed portion 46 which overlies the top of the bed 14. The bar is attached at its ends to generally L-shaped brackets having a side arm 48 and an inwardly directed arm 50. Each inwardly directed arm extends along the upstanding portion 44 of the bracket for a distance and is attached thereto by a rivet 52 or other suitable attaching means. The side arms 48 of the brackets extend along the inside of the sidewalls 18 on the base portion and are pivotally attached thereto by means of a screw 54 and nut 56 or by a pivot pin or other pivotal mounting means. The entire clamp means 42 can be swung to the downward position as shown in FIG. 2 wherein it engages and retains the free end of the web 24 or it can be swung manually to an upper position as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2 wherein the free end of the web 24 is released.

The clamp bar 42 carries a severing portion or means in the form of a blade 58 having serrated teeth 60 along the inward edge thereof. The blade 58 is mounted by rivets 62 or the like to the underside of the bottom bar 46 along the clamp bar and the serrated tooth portion 60 extends inwardly beyond the end of the bar 46 so that the teeth 60 are exposed. Preferably, the serrated teeth are such that they can tear only in a single direction and thus when it is desired to tear off the end of the web, one need simply grasp the free end in ones hand and pull the same against the serrated teeth 60.

To conclude the descriptive portion of the floor-cleaning device 10, some suitable means must be provided for attaching the base portion 12 to an elongated handle which is not shown. To accomplish this, a portion 64 of the bed can be upstruck at the center of the bed and bent upwardly in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. To this upstanding portion 64 there can be attached a bracket 66 having a bar or rod 68 thereon. The end of the handle to be attached to the base portion 12 can be provided with any suitable form of clamp means which will connect with the bar 68 and preferably such clamp means will provide for universal movement. However, since neither the handle nor the clamp means thereon forms any part of the present invention, such parts are not illustrated herein.

From the foregoing detailed description, the operation of the present invention should become relatively apparent. Once a new supply roll has been applied to the base portion 12, the free end of the web 24 is passed beneath the under surface of the pad 40, is reversed back over onto the top of the bed 14 and is retained in this position by manually pushing the clamp bar 42 downwardly to hold the free end. The operator can then push the tool across the floor so that that bottom portion beneath the pad 40 accomplishes the desired cleaning and wiping, with the resiliency of the pad 40 assuring that the web will even wipe within the imperfections or indentations which might appear on the floor. After the operator has used the cleaning device 10 for a sufficient length of time so that the exposed portion of the web 24 is dirty, he merely lifts the clamp bar 42 manually, grasps the free end of the web 24 and pulls the same until the entire dirty portion of the web has passed the serrated edge 60 on the severing device 58. This pulling action will simultaneously cause a new, clean and unused portion of the web 24 to feed off of the supply roll and beneath the pad 40. Then, the operator merely manually depresses the clamp bar 42 until the web is once again retained against the top of the bed 14 and he then tears off the dirty web portion by pulling the same against the teeth 60. The operator can then suitably dispose of the severed dirty web portion and once he does so, the tool or device 10 is once again ready for a further floor-cleaning operation.

After reading the foregoing detailed description, it will be apparent that the objects set forth at the outset of the specification have been successfully achieved by the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A floor-cleaning device comprising:

a base portion having a substantially planar bottom surface which rests upon a floor to be cleaned;

a supply roll of floor-cleaning material mounted on said base portion;

said supply roll providing a web of said floor-cleaning material which can be unwound from said supply roll;

said web extending beneath said base portion bottom surface and thus contacting the floor to be cleaned; and

clamp means mounted on said base portion and swingable about an axis parallel to said planar bottom for engaging and retaining the end of said web remote from said supply roll against said base portion top surface to thus maintain said web in position beneath said bottom surface;

said means being releasable to permit the remote end of said web to be pulled thereby removing the portion of said web which lS dirty from cleaning the floor and Introducing from said supply roll to beneath said bottom surface, a new clean portion of said web;

said means including a severing portion which enables the dirty portion of said web to be severed from the remainder of said web.

2. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 1 wherein said clamp means includes a clamp bar which can be manually lowered to clamp said remote end of said web against said base portion to engage and retain the same and which can be manually raised to release said remote end to enable said remote end to be pulled.

3. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 2 wherein said severing portion includes an element having an exposed tearing edge, said element being attached to said clamp bar.

4. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 2 wherein said base portion is provided with upstanding sidewalls and wherein said clamp bar is pivotally attached to said sidewalls.

5. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 4 wherein said supply roll is rotatably mounted between said sidewalls and wherein releasable mounting means for said supply roll are attached to at least one of said sidewalls.

6. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 5 wherein said releasable mounting means includes a roll-engaging element and a spring ann supporting said roll-engaging element, said spring arm being attached to one of said sidewalls and normally biasing said roll-engaging element toward said supply roll.

7. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 6 wherein said sidewall to which said spring am is attached has an aperture therein and wherein the normal biasing force of said spring arm urges said rolLengaging element through said aperture and into engagement with said supply roll.

8. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 7 wherein said supply roll includes a hollow core and wherein said roll-engaging element is a pin member which inserts into the open end of said hollow core.

9. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 1 wherein said bottom surface is formed of resilient material attached to said base portion. 

1. A floor-cleaning device comprising: a base portion having a substantially planar bottom surface which rests upon a floor to be cleaned; a supply roll of floor-cleaning material mounted on said base portion; said supply roll providing a web of said floor-cleaning material which can be unwound from said supply roll; said web extending beneath said base portion bottom surface and thus contacting the floor to be cleaned; and clamp means mounted on said base portion and swingable about an axis parallel to said planar bottom for engaging and retaining the end of said web remote from said supply roll against said base portion top surface to thus maintain said web in position beneath said bottom surface; said means being releasable to permit the remote end of said web to be pulled thereby removing the portion of said web which is dirty from cleaning the floor and introducing from said supply roll to beneath said bottom surface, a new clean portion of said web; said means including a severing portion which enables the dirty portion of said web to be severed from the remainder of said web.
 2. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 1 wherein said clamp means includes a clamp bar which can be manually lowered to clamp said remote end of said web against said base portion to engage and retain the same and which can be manually raised to release said remote end to enable said remote end to be pulled.
 3. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 2 wherein said severing portion includes an element having an exposed tearing edge, said element being attached to said clamp bar.
 4. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 2 wherein said base portion is provided with upstanding sidewalls and wherein said clamp bar is pivotally attached to said sidewalls.
 5. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 4 wherein said supply roll is rotatably mounted between said sidewalls and wherein releasable mounting means for said supply roll are attached to at least one of said sidewalls.
 6. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 5 wherein said releasable mounting means includes a roll-engaging element and a spring arm supporting said roll-engaging element, said spring arm being attached to one of said sidewalls and normally biasing said roll-engaging element toward said supply roll.
 7. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 6 wherein said sidewall to which said spring arm is attached has an aperture therein and wherein the normal biasing force of said spring arm urges said roll-engaging element through said aperture and into engagement with said supply roll.
 8. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 7 wherein said supply roll includes a hollow core and wherein said roll-engaging element is a pin member which inserts into the open end of said hollow core.
 9. A floor-cleaning device as defined in claim 1 wherein said bottom surface is formed of resilient material attached to said base portion. 